E 

£33 


UC-NRLF 


B   14   SIT   517 


FIVE  STRAWS 

Gathered  from  REVOLU 
TIONARY  FIELDS 
By  HIRAM  BINGHAM, 


o 

!i 

>- 


J. 


LIBRARY 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


OK 


Accession 


Class 


'      Q 


/v 
/** 

77/w  <:0/>j  ?5  <?«^  <?/  twenty-five  given  by  the  Editor 
HIRAM   BINGHAM,   Jr. 

TO 

f^arbarti  Callegc  ILfbrarg 


distribution  to  other  libraries. 

^  .     ^^ 


January  /,   igo2.  *-f->  V, 


~7^ZiS'2.<^rt~ 


FIVE  S  TRAWS 
GATHERED  FROM  REV- 
OLUTIONARY  FIELDS 


Of  this  Small  Sheaf  of  Straws  One  Hundred  and  One 
Copies  have  been  printed  —  and  Ninety-Nine  have 
been  bound. 

This  one  may  be  confidered  to  be 


FIVE  STRAWS 

^Gathered  from  RE  VOL  U- 

gjTIONARY    FIELDS 

51  By  HIRAM    BINGHAM,  Iun 

•a/j         j  ,  *  j  •• 


«K5 


SI 


CAMBRIDGE  (Maflachufetts),  /« the  Tear] 


M  D  C  C  C  C  I 


-  9  '32- 
V-  £• 

' 


Copyright,  1901 
BY  HIRAM   BINGHAM,  J™ 


70  Her 

who  has  always  made 

CHRISTMAS    DAT 

the  happieji  Day  of  all  the  Tear 

MY  MOTHER 


91204 


w 


a 


n 


n 


GOOD  Friend,  Beware!  Here  thou 
haft  no  Learned  Treatife.  Here  is 
no  Poem,  divinely  infpired.  In  thy 
Hands  thou  doft  not  hold  aught  but  a  few 
Straws,  a  mere  Sheaflet.  Here  are  no  great 
Thoughts,  no  Flights  of  the  Imagination,  no 
proud  Records.  If,  from  the  Title,  fome  fhould 
fuppofe  that  here  they  might  find  fomewhat  of 
Ufe  in  the  Harvejling  of  their  Grain,  let  them 
be  undeceived,  for  of  all  fuch  not  one  will  fail 
to  be  grievoujly  difappointed.— 
Left  thou,  moft  gentle  Reader,  fuffer  with  them, 
hear  the  Fable  of  the  Straws  &  from  it  learn 
the  Ufe  to  which  thou  mayeft  put  this  little 
Sheaf.- 

In  a  far  Country  there  lived  a  Mariner  whofe 
Name  was  unknown  to  all  his  Fellows,  but  whofe 
Fame  extendeth  even  to  this  Day.  He  was  wont 
to  go  out  on  the  Deep  in  Ships  of  great  Burthen, 
&  in  Barques,  &  of  all  Men  he  was  moft  juftly 
famed  for  going  &  returning  quickly. — 
Now  it  was  feen  that  when  the  Wind  blew  with 
great  Strength  this  Man  was  no  more  fuccefsful 
than  his  Fellows,  but  when  the  Wind  was  foft 
fo  that  no  one  knew  whether  it  blew  this  Way  or 


Of  the 

Nature 
of  this 
Booke 


Of  Counfel 
to  the 
Reader 


Of  the 
Fable  of 
the  Straws 


Of  the  Suc- 
cefs  of  the 
Mariner 


w 


a 


n 


n 


Of  his 
Death 


Of  his 
Secret 


Of  the 

Ways  of 

Seamen 


that,  this  Man  was  alway  the  Firft  to  arrive  in 
Port.  And  no  one  knew  the  caufe  thereof  (for 
their  eyes  were  feeble}.— 

Now  when  the  Days  of  the  Life  of  this  Man  had 
reached  fourfcore  Tears  6?  eighteen^  he  died.  In 
his  Chejl  were  found  his  greateft  Treafures  & 
with  them  a  fmall  Sheaf  of  Straws  bound  together 
with  a  Wify.  For  many  Tears  no  Man  knew  the 
meaning  of  thefe  Straws  nor  did  anyone  underftand 
the  Secret  of  the  Succefsful  Seaman.  But  at  length 
there  came  a  Day  whereon  the  Maft  of  the  Ship  in 
which  he  had  died  was  taken  down.  And  /<?,  to 
the  Top  of  the  Majl  was  found  affixed  a  Straw 
like  thoje  in  the  Cheft.  Then  was  brought  to  Mind 
the  Cuftom  of  that  Man,  how  in  a  foft  Wind  /'/ 
was  his  wont  to  gaze  fteadfaftly  at  the  Top  of  the 
Maft.  By  the  Straw  which  he  had  fixed  there 
was  he  able  to  gauge  the  Direction  of  the  Wind, 
even  though  it  blew  f oft  ly  this  Way  &  that.  Thus 

was  he  more  fucc efsful  than  his  Fellows. 

Now  when  this  became  known  among  them,  they 
went  £2?  did  likewife,  even  unto  this  Day.— 
If  thou  hafl  not  been  among  Seamen,  believe 
me  this  is  true.  But  if  thou  art  already  con- 
verfant  with  the  Ways  of  Seamen  &  yet  haft 
never  feen  the  Straw  at  the  Top  of  each  Maft, 
thine  Eyes  must  also  be  feeble.  Remember  the 


'•- 

o- 


a 


n 


n 


g 


Seamen  who  faw  not  the  Wind  Gauge  of  their 

Fellow. 

Now  as  there  are  Winds  and  Winds,  Currents  of 
Air  &  Currents  of  Thought,  fo  there  are  Straws 
&  Straws,  fome  for  the  Sailor  &  fome  for  the 

Searcher  after  Truth. 

Thofe  Straws  that  are  moft  eafilyfeen  are  often 
too  large  to  fhew  the  Direction  of  the  Jofteft 
Winds.  But  the  more  delicate  Straws  arejeen 
only  with  Difficulty.  Of  thefe  laft,  perchance, 
thou  mayeft  find  here  a  fundry  Few.-— 
They  have  been  gathered  from  Revolutionary 
Fields,  being  the  Letters  written  from  the  Camp 
to  his  Home  by  a  Soldier  of  the  Continental 
Army.  If  thou  doft  defire  to  underftand  the 
Myfteries  of  the  Hearts  of  Men  and  their 
Affions  one  toward  another,  thou  mayeft  per 
chance  find  a  Straw  in  this  Sheaf  that  will  fhow 
thee  fome  new  Current  of  Feeling.  And  if 
thou  art  feeking  to  comprehend  the  Thoughts 
of  thy  Fathers  when  they  fought  to  caft  off  the 
Yoke  which  their  Fathers  had  laid  upon  them, 
then  thou  mayeft  well  confider  all  thefe  Straws. 
For  they  are  of  thofe  Days. — — 


[9] 


Of  Divers 
Kinds  of 
Straws 


Of  the 
Nature  of 
thefe  Five 
Straws 


The  W       i      f 


~\7G  Winde  doeth  blowe  — 

And  Thou  wouldft  knowe 
Whaer  it  doeth  goe  — 
A  Straw  male  fliewe. 


[10] 


F 


r    f     t 


a     w 


Still  Water  Auguft  6th 

About  24.  Miles  from  Albany 

BROTHER:  Having  fo  convenient  an 
Opportunity,  though  Time  be  ever 
fo  precious,  I  will  take  a  Minute  to 
give  you  fome  Idea  of  my  prefent  Situation  & 
of  this  Part  of  the  Globe.  I  fuppofe  you  have 
had  fome  Information  of  our  Retreating  from 
Place  to  Place  by  the  Letter  I  wrote  to  my 
Father  when  at  Mofes  Creek — Since  then  we  left 
that  Place  &  march'd  to  Saratoga  &  from  thence 
to  Still  Water  —  having  a  few  cut  off  by  the 
Indians  during  the  March  —  by  what  I  can 
learn  the  Generals  are  now  determined  to 
make  a  Stand  —  I  (hall  not  be  very  particular 
in  giving  you  an  Account  of  our  whole  Retreat 
from  Ticonderoga  to  this  Place  as  you  have  had 
it  by  my  Father  s  Letter  &  will  have  a  good 
Opportunity  of  getting  Information  by  way  of 
Coll  Longs  Reg\- 

The  Army  are  fomewhat  unhealthy,  their 
Difeafe  being  chiefly  the  Fever  Ague  &  Dyfen- 
tery,  fcarcely  any  but  what  have  had  fome 
Complaint  —  Coll  Wire's  Son,  a  Captain  in 
Our  Reg*,  died  laft  Thurfday  at  Albany  of  the 
Wound  he  receiv'd  at  Fort  Ann,  &  was  very 
decently  inter'd,  &  is  greatly  lamented,  much 


Of  his 
prefent 
Situation 


Of  the 
Retreat  of 
Gen'  Gates' 
Army 


Of  Col'. 
Wire's 
Son 


F 


f 


S     t 


raw 


Of  the 

Method  of 
Living 


Of  his 
Health 


may  be  faid  to  his  Prai/e,  he  was  couragious, 
fought  like  a  Hero,  was  friendly,  &  much  be- 
lov'd,  in  the  Camp.  Macclintock  has  had  a 
long  Spell  of  Sicknefs  of  the  Fever  Ague^  is 
growing  better.  Col".  ScammeW  s  is  very  poorly 
of  the  fame  Diforder  but  getting  better. — 
It  is  not  at  all  to  be  wondered  at  if  we  have  a 
few  feck)  when  living  upon  frefh  Provision  & 
lodging  upon  the  bare  Ground  cover'd  with 
Dew  without  Blanketts  having  a  few  Boards 
for  Cover  —  But  now  they  begin  to  be  more 
healthy  as  they  get  hardned  to  this  Method 
of  living — I  find  there  is  a  great  deal  in  U/e, 
when  at  Ticonderoga  I  thought  I  had  very  poor 
lodging,  when  laying  on  my  Mattress,  what  can 
I  fay  now  —  this  I  can,  that  I  fleep  as  well 
upon  the  Ground  as  ever  I  did  on  a  Bed,  but 
how  long  fhall  this  be  my  Mind,  God  only 
knows  —  Since  I  left  Ti :  I  have  purchaf'd  a 
Blankett  which  I  find  very  ufeful  —  at  Night 
I  wrap  myfelf  in  it  &  lay  down  upon  the  bare 
Ground  &  fometimes  upon  Boards,  in  the  Morn 
ing  my  Blankett  is  wet,  cover'd  with  Dew  :  But 
after  all  thefe  troublefome  Scenes  I  am  ftill  the 
fame,  in  good  Health^  hoping  long  to  continue 
fo,  &  live  to  give  our  Enemies  a  fevere  Flogging 
yet,  &  be  in  Pofsefsion  of  my  Baggage  they 


F 


f 


S     t     r     a 


w 


took  at  Skeenfborough  —  I  have  this  to  comfort 
myfelf  with,  that  I  fav'd  myfelf  with  what  I 
had  on,  which  happen'd  not  to  be  my  belt  — 
Cloaths  are  amazing  dear  here  as  well  as  every 
thing  elfe.  R.  Shirts  are  fold  for  20  &  25 
Dollars  a  piece  —  if  my  Wages  were  not  higher 
than  I  expedted  when  at  Home,  I  would  by  no 
means  tarry,  but  as  they  are  raif'd,  &  for  the 
Love  I  have  for  the  Country ,  I  can  by  no  Mean's 
think  of  leaving  the  Army — I  hope  to  get 
fome  Cloathing  here  to  rub  along  for  the  pref- 
ent,  &  if  I  fhould  not  come  Home  in  the  Fall, 
I  fhould  be  glad  to  have  fome  Cloathing  fent 
me  —  If  there  is  a  good  Opportunity  I  fhould 
be  glad  of  a  cotten  &  linnen  Shirt  &  one 
Ruffle' d  with  Couple  neck  Stocks  &  a  Pair  or 
two  of  worfted  Stockings,  I  fhall  not  mention 
any  more  as  it  will  be  troublefome  getting 
them  here  at  fo  great  a  Diftance —  I  faved  none 
of  my  Cloaths  except  my  wilt  on  Coat,  i  white 
Jackett,  i  pr  thick  cloth  Breeches  i  Shirt,  i 
pr  Stockings,  i  pr  Shoes,  Hatt,  &  Great  Coat 
—  Almoft  all  the  Officers  &  Soldiers  fhar'd 
the  fame  Fate  which  makes  Cloathing  fo  excef- 

sive  dear. 

A  Soldier's  Life  is  fuch  that  no  one  can  have  a 
true  Idea  of  without  the  Trial.— 


Of  his 
Cloaths 


Of  leaguing 
the  Army 


Of  his 

Needs 


Of  what 
he  faved 


Of  a  Sol 
dier'' s  Life 


F 


f 


S    t 


raw 


Of  his 
friends 


Of 
Forage 


Of 

Tories 


It  is  fuch  that  I  am  convinc'd  will  fait  no  Man 
except  he  have  a  Conftitution  like  Iron  —  If 
any  one  has  a  mind  to  experience  let  him  come 
now  &  he  will  find  what  it  is  to  live  the  Life 
of  a  Soldier  in  every  Senfe  of  the  Word  —  Let 
him  come,  now  or  never,  as  faid  old  Par/on  Tajk 

when  he  preach'd  to  Sinners. 

There  is  feveral  of  my  old  Acquaintance  from 
Mafsachufetts  State,  my  Frefhman  Sumner  at 
College,  who  is  a  Captain  of  a  Company  from 
Milton  —  DT  Haftings,  Surgeon  of  a  Reg*.  — 
Hay  wood  &  Maynard  my  Clafs  Mates  —  There 
is  a  Number  of  very  refpe6lable  Gentlemen  in 
the  Army.— 

There  is  a  very  good  Crop  in  thefe  Parts,  but 
foon  comes  a  Defolation,  wherever  we  march  we 
keep  our  Horfes  in  the  Fields  among  Corn  & 
Oats,  So  that  the  Enemy  if  they  gain  the  Ground 
may  have  poor  fare  for  them  &  their  Horfes. — 
Tories  are  very  troublefome  here  —  many  of 
them  take  up  Arms  againft  us  &  lurk  in  the 
Woods  with  the  Indians  waiting  for  a  Sculp.  It 
is  believ'd  the  Tories  have  fculp'd  many  of 
their  Countrymen  as  there  is  a  Premium  from 
Burgoyne  for  Sculps.  They  are  daily  taken  & 
brought  in  by  our  Scouts  &  I  believe  fome  of 
them  will  fwing  very  Jo  on. 


F 


r    f     t 


S     t 


a     w 


The  Indians  treat  both  Sexes  with  the  fame 
Barbarity,  have  kill'd  &  fculp'd  whole  Family's 
together  Men  Women  &  Children,  at  one  Place 
as  our  Men  were  pafsing  they  faw  a  Man  his 
Wife  &  Children  fculp'd  (by  thofe  Savages] 
gaping  &  expiring  &  the  Hogs  rooting  their 

Body's. 

A  few  Day's  ago  I  rode  a  little  Di/lance  from 
Camp  where  we  had  a  few  Men  ftationed  to 
guard  the  Sick.  I  had  juft  pafl  the  Place 
where  a  Party  of  Indians  happened  to  lay  & 
ftop'd  at  the  firft  Houfe  talking  with  an  Officer ; 
as  I  fet  upon  my  Horfe,  out  rufh'd  thofe  In 
dians  &  fir'd  at  fome  Men  fwimming  in  the 
Water  &  chafd  Some  as  they  were  pafsing,  I 
feeing  this  fcream'd  to  the  Guard  to  purfue 
them,  and  rode  towards  them,  they  difcharg'd 
their  Pieces  towards  us  &  fir'd  one  Ball  into 
the  Houfe  not  far  from  the  Door  where  I  was; 
immediately  upon  our  purfuing  them  they  ran 
into  the  Woods  &  got  off,  we  were  in  fuch 
Hafte  they  had  not  Time  to  get  a  Sculp,  they 
kill'd  two,  One  fhot  in  the  Water  who  got  out 
&  ran  a  confiderable  Diftance  before  he  fell  — 
Since  then  they  have  cut  off  more  of  our  Men 
—  One  Hundred  Indians  in  the  Woods  do  us 
more  harm  than  1000  Eritifh  troops.  They 


Of 

Indians 


Of  an 

exciting 
Adventure 


Of  Indians 
as  Troops 


F 


r    f    t 


S     t 


raw 


Of  his 
Friends 


Of  Money 
Matters 


have  been  the  Death  of  many  brave  Fellows  — 

I  hope  they  will  meet  with  their  Reward  for 

their  curfed  Barbarity.— 

Apologize  to  my  Relations  £57*  Acquaintance  for 

my  not  writing  them  this  Opportunity  for  I  had 

not  the  leaft  Thought  of  Coll  Longs  Reg',  being 

permitted  to  fet  out  now,  when  the  Enemy  are 

every  Day  expedled.— 

Give  my  befl  Refpe6ts  to  them  —  particularly 

to  my  Father  fcf  Mother  —  &  at  Cap\  Teat  on"  s. 

I  remain  with  due  Refpeft  Your  L.  Brother 

Wm  Weeks 

NB.  A  Letter  from  You  is  expecfted  veryfoon. 
Thofe  who  write  lhall  have  an  Anfwer.— 
(I  fhall  not  fend  Home  any  Money  now,  as  I 
have  not  receiv'd  but  two  Months  Wages  yet. 
If  that  Debt  of  Cap'.  Yeaton's  is  not  paid,  fettle 
it  for  me  and  you  fhall  be  made  whole  to  your 

Satisfaction. 

(My  Wages  are  forty  Dollars  pr  Month] 


Mr.  Clem'.  Weeks 
att 
Greenland  — 


[16] 


s 


c    o    n    d 


S    t 


Turkey  Farm  —  near  Albany  Oflober  gtb 

I  HAVE  the  Pleafure  to  inform  You  that 
Eurgoine  is  retreating  in  the  great  eft  Con- 
fufton,  that  we  have  drove  them  out  of 
their  Lines  with  the  Lofs  of  fever 'al  Hundred 
of  their  Men  kill'd,  wounded  &  taken  Prifon- 
ers,  the  Day  before  Yefterday,  likewife  a  con- 
fiderable  Number  of  Tents  6?  Cannon.  The 
Particulars  have  not  yet  [reached  me]  as  I  am 
a  little  Diftance  from  the  Army  making  out 
my  Pay  Rolls.  The  Hefsians  are  very  trouble- 
fome  to  Eurgoine^  keep  a  continual  Quarrelling 
with  the  Britifh  Troops,  and  defert  very  faft. 
There  is  more  or  lefs  [Defertion]  every  Day  ; 
fometimes  they  come  in  almoft  half  Company*. 
We  have  been  very  fuccefsful  of  late.  Since 
the  Battle  about  a  Fortnight  ago,  have  had  In 
telligence  almoft  every  Day  from  their  Army 

by  Deferters  or  Prifoners. — — 

The  laft  Battle  before  this,  we  unhappily  loft 
fome  brave  Officers :  our  L\  Col".  Colburn,  Col'. 
Adams^  &  a  Lieu1,  in  our  Reg'.  — and  a  few  others 
wounded.  Cap1.  Be!!  of  Newcaftle  is  very  badly 

wounded,  (hot  thro  the  Side. 

Never  Men  behav'd  better  than  ours  did  [in]  the 
late  Battle ;  as  was  the  Exprefsion  of  Gen1.  Gates 

[17] 


raw 


Of  the 
Retreat  of 
Burgoine 


Of  the 
Hefsians 


Of  their 
Lqfses 


Of  the 
Battle  of 
Oflober  Jth 


s 


o    n    d 


Straw 


°f  going 
Home 


Of  his 
Cloaths 


Of  his 
Coat 


Of  a 
Hatt 


Of  the 

News 


about  two  Brigades,  chiefly  Newhamp/kire  Troops 
[who]  fac'd  almoft  their  whole  Army  &  obliged 

them  to  retreat  feveral  Times. 

I  hope  we  fhall  foon  break  up  Burgoines  Army 
fo  that  I  may  have  a  convenient  Opportunity 
of  coming  Home  —  I  expeffi  to  come  Home 

in  about  two  months. 

I  receiv'd  your  Letter  dated  Aug?  2$l\  Sept  ^ 
— with  the  Shirt  &  two  pr  Stockings,  which  came 
at  a  very  fuitable  Time  as  I  was  much  in  want 
of  them  —  now  I  hope  I  fhall  be  able  to  rub 

along  'till  I  can  come  Home. 

The  Coat  which  you  have  mention'd  of  Cap\ 
Teatons,  I  can  well  do  without,  &  if  it  is  agree 
able  to  him  to  take  it  again  with  fome  Con- 
fideration  for  Damages,  twould  fuit  me  much 
better,  than  to  give  that  Price — As  I  expedt 
to  take  one  out  of  the  Store.  But  if  you  think 
he  would  not  be  very  willing  to  take  it,  with 
out  the  leafl  hard  Thought,  by  all  means  keep 
it,  &  I  will  fee  him  fatisfied.— 
If  you  will  buy  me  a  good  Hatt  againft  I  come 
Home  I  fhould  be  exceeding  glad.— 
For  the  Particulars  of  the  late  Tranfaftions  & 
of  the  Enemy's  Retreat  6?  the  Lofs  they  fuftain'd 
You  can  have  by  way  of  Mr  Storer  at  Cot.  Lang- 
dons.  Col".  Langdon  or  Cap'.  Hill  [will  give  you] 

[I8J 


Second 


S    t    r 


a    w 


a  much  better  Account  than  I  am  able  to  give 
You,  as  I  am  a  little  Diftance  from  Camp  & 

in  great  Hajle. 

Having  nothing  further  to  write  at  prefent  I 
mult  bid  you  adieu. 

Wm  Weeks 

P.S.  Remember  me  to  all  my  Friends  &  old 
Acquaintance  —  let  them  know  that  I  am  in 
Health  &  expect  to  fee  them  foon. 

[To 

Maj.  William  Weeks 
aft 
Greenland  ] 


[NOTE  :  Nothing  fhows  more  graphically  the  confufion  and 
excitement,  in  the  midfl  of  which  this  letter  was  written, 
than  the  number  of  omifsions  evinced  by  the  fquare 
brackets.  It  will  be  noticed  that  more  words  had  to  be 
fupplied  in  this  letter  than  in  all  the  others  combined. — 

H.  B.] 


T    h 


r     d 


S    t 


raw 


To  Ait 
Father 


Of  the 

Movements 

of  the 

Troop} 


Of  the 

Northern 
Troops 


Ofthe 
Itch 


Fijb  Kill  Novr  jf  7777 

THO'  we  are  in  the  greatefl  Confujion  £s? 
Hurry,  being  on  a  March  from  Albany 
to  Philadelphia  (as  we  have  now  re- 
ceiv'd  Orders),  I,  having  an  Opportunity  to 
fend  Home,  by  way  of  Serf  Chafe  of  Stratham, 
will  write  a  few  Lines  to  let  you  know  that  I 
am  well,  &  that  fince  the  Surrender  of  Bur- 
goine's  Army  at  Saratoga,  there  has  been  little 
or  nothing  to  do  there,  &  that  the  chief  of 
the  Troops  are  now  marching  toward  New  Tork. 
Gen1.  Poors  Brigade  expe6l  to  proceed  on  to 
Philadelphia  to  join  Gen1.  Washington  —  Lafl 
Night  we  got  to  this  Place  &  immediately  we 
fhall  march  on  to  Peeks  Kill  &c  —  This  March 
toward  Philadelphia  was  not  only  very  unex 
pected  but  very  little  wifh'd  for,  as  the  Northern 
"Troops  have  been  this  Campaign  much  neg- 
le<5ted  by  Gen1.  Congrejs,  not  only  as  to  Money 
but  Cloaths.  Our  Officers  &?  Men  in  general 
are  deflitute  of  Money  &  have  the  Itch  very 
badly.  Soon  I  expe6l  the  Money  will  come 
&  their  Wants  be  relieved  &  I  hope  cured  of  the 
Itch- 

[*>] 


T    h 


d 


S    t 


raw 


A  few  Days  ago  I  expected  to  fee  Homefoon 

—  but   now   I    expert   the   Time  will   be  long 

firft  as  we  are  going  from  Home 

I  am  forry  that  I  am  under  a  Necefsity  to  write 
fomething  that's  very  dif agreeable  as  the  Death 
of  a  dear  Relation  —  My  Uncle  Storer,  who  died 
very  fuddenly  the  Night  before  we  left  Albany 

—  While  we  were  at  Saratoga  he  complain'd  of 
a  bad  Cold;  the  Night  before  we  left  there  I 
flept  with  him  ;  &  advif  d  him  to  leave  the  Reg\ 
&  tarry  at  fome  Houfe  till  he  got  better — He 
Jaid  if  he  did  not  feel  better  he  would.     The 
next  Morning  we  all  fet  out  for  Albany  with 
Eurgoine  &  his   Troops  —  About   Nine   Miles 
from  Albany  we  had  to  crofs  3  Sprouts  i.  e.  fmall 
Rivers,  juft  before  we  came  to  them  my  Uncle 
had  his  Horfe  ftolen  —  He  got  on  a  Waggon 
to  ride  over  them.     The  Waggon  overfet  & 
wet  him  from  Head  to  Foot  —  This,  with  the 
Cold  he  juft  before  had,  was  the   Means  of 
carrying  him  from  Time  to  Eternity,  in  fo  fhort 

a  Space  of  Time 

My  Coufen  Jojeph  Storer  was  well  a  few  Days 
ago,  when  I  left  him  at  Albany.     He  expedled 
to  march  the  next  Day  with  New  Hampshire 
Militia  for  Peeks  Kill— 

Sir:    Being   in   the  greatefl    Hafte  muft    beg 


Of  the 
Death  of 
his  Uncle 


Of  his 
Coufen 


T    h 


d 


S    t 


raw 


Leave  to  fubfcribe  myfelf  Your  very  obedient 
&  dutiful  Son  W?  Weeks 

[To  Major  William  Weeks 
att  Greenland 

New  Hampjhire~\ 


F    o    u 


t    h 


S    t 


raw 


Camp  Valley  Forge,  Fefr .  i6th.  1778 

IT  being  a  Cuftom  with  me  to  write  every 
Opportunity,  it  would  be  odd  if  I  fhould 
negledl  this,  to  write,  by  my  old  Friend 
Cap\  Kimball  of  Atkijson  -  -  The  firft  thing  I 
muft  enter  upon  is  the  Scarcity  of  Provifion 
here.  Death  feem'd  to  flare  the  poor  Soldiers 
in  the  Face  ;  for  this  five  Days  the  Soldiers 
have  not  drawn  [the]  Tenth  Part  of  their 
Allowance ;  which  I  believe  is  chiefly  owing 
to  the  Com1.  Genh.  Neglett^  and  for  which  G — d 
grant  he  may  Juffer.  This  Day  Gen1.  Wajhing- 
ton  was  acquainted  of  the  Treatment  the  Army 
had  met  with,  and  immediately  made  a  ftri<5t 
Enquiry  into  the  Matter,  and  foon  found  out 
fome  Method  to  the  better  Sup-port  of  his 
Army  —  I  believe  for  the  future  we  fhall  have 
much  better  Fare,  as  fo  good  a  Man  as  his  Ex 
cellency  has  been  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
the  Treatment  we  have  receiv'd,  and  as  he 
mufl  know  that  if  an  Army  is  not  well  fup- 
ported  that  not  fo  great  Dependance  can  be 
put  upon  them— 

This  Moment  arriv'd  a  Quantity  of  Beef  which 
feem'd  to  give  Joy  to  every  diftrefsing  Soul — 
As  foon  as  the  Brigade  Commifsary  receiv'd 

[23] 


Of  the 
Scarcity  of 
Pro<vifiotts 


Of  Gen! 
Wajhington 


Of  Joy 


F    o 


r    t    h 


S    t 


raw 


Of  the 
Bearer  of 
the  Letter 


Of 

Honours 
conferred 


it,  he  cries  out  to  the  Soldiers  —  come  unto  me 
ye  that  are  a  hungred  £f?  /  will  give  you  to  eat 
&  behold  they  flock'd  around  him  as  thick 
as  Bees,  &  when  they  had  all  eat,  they  gave 
him  Thanks :  &  of  the  Fragments  that  remain*  d, 
I  am  fure  [they]  would  not  have  fill'd  one  Eaf- 
kitt — Joy  feems  to  be  feen  in  every  Counte 
nance  fince  the  reverfe  of  Fortune,  G — d  g — t 
it  may  continue  fo— 

I  fuppofe  you  will  fee  the  Bearer,  Cap*.  Kimball, 
as  I  have  defir'd  him  to  call  at  our  Houfe  (he 
talking  of  going  to  Portfmouth)  And  I  believe 
I  mould  come  Home  with  him  [if]  he  did  not 
go  to  Albany  to  do  fome  Bufmefs  with  Cap'. 
Fogg  which  Jobb  I  have  the  good  Fortune  to 

have  fettled  while  at  Albany 

I  am  fomewhat  defirous  to  fee  Greenland  before 
another  Campaign  comes  on,  as  an  Oppor 
tunity  then  cannot  well  be  had  —  And  I  am 
yet  undetermin'd  about  coming  Home,  But 
feeing  fo  many  going  off,  I  may  pofsibly  take 
the  Start  with  Doctor  Hovey  in  about  one 
Month  —  Gen1.  Sullivan  expedls  to  fet  out  in 
a  few  Days  for  New  Hampjhire  —  This  Day  I 
muft  be  at  Gen1.  Sullivan  s  to  take  a  Dinner  with 
him.  The  other  Day  I  had  as  great  an  Honour 
confer'd  upon  me  —  I  had  the  Honour  to 


F    o 


t    h 


S   t 


raw 


take  a  Glafs  of  Wine  with  Gen1.  Wajhington  & 
his  Lady  —  But  at  the  fame  time  I  fhould  count 
as  great  an  Honour  to  have  the  fatisfadtion  of 
feeing  converfing  &f  taking  a  Glafs  of  Wine 

with  my  —  Friends  at  Home 

If  an  Opportunity  can  be  had  by  fame  fafe  Hand 
I  fhould  be  glad  of  a  Shirt  or  two,  with  a/>r  or 
two  falfe  Sleeves  a  Couple  pr.  Stockings,  few 
Stocks  of  courfe,  pr.  white  Breeches  made  full 
large,  with  a  white  Waiftcoat  and  if  a  g-s04- 
Hatt  can  be  fent  me  it  would  be  greatly  agree 
able  to  have  the  Breeches  &  Waiftcoat  home- 
Jpun  —  Cloathing  of  every  kind  being  excefsive 
dear  &  fcarce  here  (&  it  being  uncertain 

whether  I  fhall  come  Home  or  no) 

If  any  thing  of  the  above  can  be  fent  me,  let 
the  Price  be  ever  fo  large,  [it]  would  be  very 

agreeable 

Pleafe  to  remember  me  to  all  Friends  at  Home 

Wm.  Weeks 

N.B.  I  fhould  be  glad  to  have  the  above  falfe 
Sleeves  ruffled  —  The  above  would  come  fafe 

by  any  commif*  Officer  of  the  Battalion 

N.B.  I  fhould  be  glad  if  you  would  be  careful 
of  fpeaking  about  the  bad  Fare  of  the  Army, 
As  it  might  be  a  Difcouragement  to  the  Men 
to  enlift 


Of  his 

Needs 


Of 

Matters  of 
Importance 


F 


f 


k 


S    t 


a     w 


Of  the 

/mall  Pox 

&ofln- 

noculation 


Of  the 

End  of  one 

Daniels  of 

Durham 


Camp  Valley  Forge  April  30*  1778 

DEAR  BROTHER  — Since  my  laft  I 
have  had  the  Honour  of  having  the 
fmall  Pox  by  way  of  Innoculation,  & 
fo  favourable  that  I  fcarcely  expe<5t  to  have  a 
Receipt  for  it — Since  that  I  have  been  fo  un 
happy  as  to  have  the  Fever  Ague,  which  has 
brought  me  very  low,  reduc'd  me  far  more, 
than  dieting  for  the  fmall  Pox  —  Thzjmall  Pox 
was  nothing  more  to  me,  than  dieting  —  I  took 
the  Air  every  Day  whilft  I  had  it,  &  had  but 
one  fick  Turn  worth  mentioning,  that  was  when 
the  Pox  was  coming  out — All  our  New  Eng 
land  Troops  who  had  not  [had]  the  fmall  Pox, 
have  been  innoculated  &  but  very  few  died  — 
It  put  an  End  to  one  Daniels  of  Durham  a 
Corporal  in  Col".  Scammell's  Reg',  who  took  it  the 
natural  Way,  he  made  not  the  leaft  Prepara 
tion,  fuppofing  he  had  it  the  laft  War —  He 
was  a  very  civil  Fellow,  worthy  of  Promotion, 
the  beft  of  the  Name  —  The  Fever  Ague  with 
which  I  have  been  troubled,  has  paid  a  Vifit 
to  many  of  our  New  England  Troops,  but  are 
all  like  to  do  well  —  There  is  a  Profpe6l  of  our 
having  a  Grand  Army  in  the  Field  foon  —  the 
Troops  come  in  very  faft  from  the  Southward  — 


Fifth 


S     t 


I  expecft  this  Campaign  will  put  an  End  to  the 
War — Gen1.  Sullivan  has  lately  gone  to  take  the 

Command  at  Rhode  IJland 

As  the  Campaign  is  coming  on,  I  have  but 
little  Expe<5tation  of  coming  Home  before  Com 
mencement.  Should  be  glad  [if]  you  would 
fend  the  Money  for  my  Degree,  and  I  will 
fatisfy  you  when  I  return  —  Likewife  I  fhould 
be  glad  if  I  could  have  fent  me  fomething 
for  Summer  Drefs  As  there  is  nothing  to  be 
had  here  without  giving  more  than  treble  the 
worth  of  it.  Hats  here  are  fold  for  jo  Dol 
lars  Shoes  8  d".  and  other  things  in  Proportion 

—  The  following  Articles  would  be  -very-  agree 
able  as  the  Summer  Approaches  faft  —  i  or  2 
fine  Shirts  —  i   or  i  P:  white  Stockings,  few 
Stocks  &  Pockett  Handkerchiefs — a  P:  white 
Breeches  &  Waiftcoat  —  I  fhould  be  very  glad 
of  the  above  Articles,  if  they  can  be  fent  con 
veniently,  by  any  Jafe  Hand.     I    imagine   an 
Opportunity  may  be  had  by  way  of  L\  Wedg 
wood  of  North  Hill  who  offer' d  to  bring  any 
thing  of  the  kind  for  me.— 

I  have  been  looking  out  this  fome  time  for 
a  Letter  from  Home,  but  behold  none  appear eth 

—  I    fhould    be   glad    You    would    write    the 
firfl,  &  every  Opportunity,  &  give  me  a  good 


a     w 


Of  the 
End  of 
the  War 


Of  his 
Degree 


Of  his 

Summer 

Drefs 


Of  an  In- 

exprefsible 
Satisfaction 


Fifth 


S     t 


a     w 


Hiftory  of  every  thing  that  has  happen'd  fmce 
my  leaving  Home  as  it  would  give  me  an  in- 
exfrefsible  Satisfaction 

PS.     Remember  me  to  all  Friends 


Wm  Weeks 


\To 


Mr.  Clem*.  Weeks 
att 

Greenland — ] 


[NOTE  :  The  coveted  degree,  an  "A.  M.,"  was  duly  se 
cured  by  the  payment  of  ten  dollars.  He  had  already 
received  an  "A.  B."  in  1775  —  see  page  29.  H.  B.] 

[38] 


V     a      d 


M 


u 


m 


TT7M  WEEKS  was  born  at  the  Time  of 
i/j/  the  Beginning  of  the  French  &  Indian 
r  r  War,  in  1755,  m  a  ^tt:^e  Settlement 
which  lies  a  few  Miles  South  Weft  of  Port/ 
mouth^  New  Hampjkire,  &  which  carries  the 
forbidding  Name  of  Greenland.  He  was  one 
of  thirteen  Children.— 

His  Father,  Major  William  Weeks,  had  feen 
Service  in  the  New  Hampshire  Horfe  Guards, 
but  at  the  Time  of  the  Letters  he  was  Juftice 
of  the  Peace  in  Greenland  &  in  the  Quorum 
of  Rockingham  County.  To  him  the  Education 
of  his  Children  was  a  Matter  of  the  graveft 
Concern.  His  Daughters  were  educated  in  the 
Schools  of  Bo/ton,  and  two  of  his  Sons,  Clement 
&  lVm  Weeks,  were  fent  to  Harvard.  - 
Wm  Weeks  came  to  Cambridge  at  the  Age  of 
Sixteen.  His  College  Courfe  was  not  without 
Variety.  During  his  Junior  Year  occurred  the 
Bojion  Tea  Party,  while  in  the  Spring  of  his 
Senior  Year  came  the  Days  of  Lexington  & 


Concord,  of  the  Marfhalling  of  Troops 
the  Siege  of  Bojlon. 


of 


Shortly  after  returning  Home,  he  enlifted  "for 
four  Months"  to  aid  in  the  Defenfe  of  Portf- 


Of  the 
Writer 
of  the 
Letten 


Of  his 
Father 


Of  his 
Life  at 
Harvard 
1771-1773 


Of  his 

Enliftment 
1775 


V     a      d 


M 


u     m 


Of  his 

Commifsion 

1776 


Of  his 
Resignation 

1778 


Of  his 
Death 

1843 


mouth  Harbour.  In  November,  1775,  he  was 
ftationed  on  Pierce 's  IJland  &  a£ted  as  "  Sar- 
jeant"  in  "Cap'.  H ebbs'  Company" 
A  Year  later  he  received  his  Commifsion  as 
Paymafler  in  the  3rd  Continental  Reg*  of  New 
Hampjkire  under  the  Command  of  Col\  Scammel. 
It  was  while  ferving  in  this  Capacity  that  he 
wrote  thefe  Letters  to  his  Father  &  Brother 
which  portray  fo  vividly  the  daily  Life  of  a  Rev 
olutionary  Soldier.— 

He  refign'd  his  Pofition  as  Paymafter,  June 
i ft,  1778  &  returned  to  live  in  Greenland. 
Two  Years  later,  in  O6tober,  1780,  he  married. 
(Of  his  later  Life,  of  his  fecond  Marriage ',  of  his 
thirteen  Children^  of  his  lajl  Days  in  the  Town 

of  Hopkinton,  let  Others  fpeak.} 

He  died,  January  ijth,  1843,  m  tne  eighty- 
eighth  Year  of  his  Age.  Requiefcat  in  Pace — 


[30] 


Eddy 


W 


n     d 


f  J-TEATHER-WAF*,  up  fcf  down,  with 
t/j/  every  eddy-wind —  thus  does  Nathan- 
r  r  iel  Ward  characterize  fome  of  his 

fellow-countrymen  in  1647.  But  eddy-winds 
were  not  confined  to  the  early  years  of  the 
American  Revolution.  To  be  fure,  many  of 
them  are  now  forgotten,  unknown,  or  mifun- 
derftood.  Their  caufes  are  even  more  obfcure 
than  their  own  exiftence.  Their  ejfeffs  are 
fometimes  noticed  but  often  afsigned  to  wrong 
caufes.  In  truth  the  Hi/lory  of  the  American 
Revolution  has  never  been  written.  There  are 
hundreds  of  books  which  deal  with  the  fubjedl 
but  they  only  fhow  the  crying  necefsity  for  a 
comprehenfive  work  which  fliall  cover  the 
period  in  its  entirety  &  deferve  to  be  read  & 
re-read  as  long  as  there  are  Americans  who 
need  to  ftudy  the  problems  of  hiftory  & 
government.— 

But  to  produce  fuch  a  work  would  require  the 
fervices  of  a  trained  body  of  fcholars  for  thirty 
years,  while  the  true  fignificance  of  fuch  an 
undertaking  is  not  fufficiently  appreciated  to 
warrant  the  outlay  of  time,  money  &  men  that 
would  be  required.  At  prefent  the  reading 


Of  the 
Nature  of 
Eddy-winds 


Of  a 

Hiflorie 


Eddy 


W     i     n     d     s 


Of  the  <voice 

of  the 

Majority 


Of  a 

Record  of 

Obfer<va- 

tions 


public  demands  "  Hi/lorical  Novels"  "founded 
on  faffs,"  with  the  foundations  buried  fo  far 
underground  that  they  are  loft  to  view.  Thirty 
years  from  now  it  may  defire  more  truth  &  lefs 
fl6Hon.  But  the  people  of  this  day  &  genera 
tion  are  not  given  to  undertakings  which  do 
not  promife  immediate  returns.  They  are  too 
bufy.  To  moft  of  them,  anything  like  a  foreft, 
which  takes  a  generation  in  which  to  mature, 
is  not  worth  planting.  The  idea  of  promot 
ing  a  Hiftorical  Plant  whofe  fruit  would  not 
ripen  for  thirty  years,  appears  to  them  per- 
fe<5tly  abfurd.  "Let  the  trees  'plant  themfehes; 
they  have  done  well  enough  alone  in  the  pajl" 
"Let  works  of  Hi/lory  come  as  they  pleafe. 
Let  thofe  who  choofe  publi/Ji  (if  they  can  find  a 
publisher)."  Thus  am  I  filenced.  The  Ma 
jority  rules.  Nevertheless  we  have  a  "  United 

States  Forefter  "  &  fome  day. (  ?  ) 

But  what  has  all  this  to  do  with  the  Eddy- 
winds  which  are  fhown  by  thefe  Revolutionary 
Straws  ?  Certainly  /  ought  to  be  grateful  that 
there  is  not  yet  in  exiftence  any  body  of  ex 
perts  who  are  devoting  their  entire  time  to  the 
consideration  of  the  problems  of  the  American 
Revolution.  If  there  were,  my  little  book 
would  have  no  raifon  d'etre.  As  it  is  I  have 


Eddy 


W     i     n     d     s 


affixed  the  Straws  where  they  may  be  feen  and 
ftudied.  I  have  watched  their  turning  a  little 
myfelf  &  have  jotted  down  the  record.  If  it 
reads  like  a  collection  of  Weather  Reports^  I 
fhall  be  fatisfied.  But  before  I  give  it  you,  I 
am  going  to  make  a  prophecy.  (A  prophet  is 
only  a  fool — fo  let  me  prophefy.)  There  will 
be  a  time  when  the  value  of  Truth  will  be  fo 
appreciated  that  nothing  needed  in  its  Search 
will  be  found  wanting.  Yea,  there  will  be 
found  men,  money  &  time  to  work  together 
uninterruptedly  for  a  whole  generation,  if  need 
be,  in  fearch  of  the  hiftorical  truth  that  lies  in 

the  American  Revolution. 

Meanwhile  here  is  the  Record  of  Obfervations. 
The  defeat  of  Eurgoyne  was  the  turning  point 
of  the  war.  The  firft  three  letters  cover  part 
of  the  campaign  before  &  after  his  defeat.  In 
order  that  fentences  worthy  of  fpecial  attention 
may  not  be  overlooked  I  have  repeated  a  few 
of  them  with  brief  comment.— 
"  The  Army  are  fomewhat  unhealthy,  their  Dif- 
eafe  being  chiefly  the  Fever  Ague  &  Difentery, 
Jcarcely  any  but  what  have  had Jome  Complaint" 
Over  a  hundred  years  ago  our  armies  fuffered 
from  the  fame  diforders  which  afflidl  them 
now.  Thus  do  we  take  advantage  of  the  ex- 

[33] 


A  Prophecy 


Vide  page 
II 


Eddy 


W     i     n     d     s 


Vide  page 
13 


Vide  page 
15 


Vide  page 
'7 


perience  of  our  fathers.  They  were  fhort  of 
proper  clothing  &  flept  "upon  the  bare  Ground 

cover'd  with  Dew  without  Blanketts." 

"  A  Soldier's  Life  is  fuch  that  no  one  can  have 
a  true  Idea  of  without  the  Trial."  And  yet 
we  are  accuftomed  to  think  &  believe  that 
the  Army  was  made  up  of  backwoodfmen, 
frontierfmen,  who  were  accuftomed  to  all  forts 

of  hardfhips. 

"  One  Hundred  Indians  in  the  woods  do  us  more 
harm  than  1000  EritiJJi  Troops"  This  muft  be 
an  overftatement.  However,  one  who  had  re 
cently  had  a  very  narrow  efcape  at  the  hands 
of  thefe  very  natives  might  be  forgiven.  No 
Britifh  Soldier  had  ever  done  more  to  him  than 
to  run  off  with  his  wardrobe.  It  is  abfurd  to 
fuppofe  that  one  Indian  was  as  good  as  ten  of 
Burgoyne's  Fineft ! — 

"  The  Hefsians  are  very  troublejome  to  Burgoyne" 
If  Succefs  lies  in  prefenting  a  united  front  to 
the  enemy  and  in  "  team-play,"  it  is  fmall 
wonder  that  Burgoyne  was  defeated.  With 
his  Hefsians  keeping  up  a  "  continual  Quar 
relling  with  the  Eritijh  Troops  "  &  deferting  to 
the  American  fide  "  in  almoft  half  Companys" 
it  is  not  hard  to  fee  why  Gates  was  fuccefsful. 
The  only  wonder  is  that  Burgoyne  held  out 

[34] 


Eddy 


n     d     s 


as  long  as  he  did.  Pofsibly  it  was  becaufe 
the  American  officers  were  thinking  fo  much 
of  "  Coats  "  &  "  Hatts  "  &  of  "finding^  a  con 
venient  Opportunity  of  coming  Home  "  [in  time 
for  Thankfgiving].  - 
"  Tories  are  very  TROUBLESOME  here"  From 
what  follows  this  was  certainly  a  mild  epithet 
to  apply  to  Americans  who  were  believed  to 
have  "  fculp'd  many  of  their  Countrymen"  It  is 
difficult  for  us  to  believe  that  a  Britifh  General 
had  offered  a  premium  for  "Sculps"  Never- 
thelefs  the  whole  narrative  of  the  "Jculping  " 
goes  a  long  way  to  explain  the  intenfe  hatred 
of  the  Tories  &  their  allies.  Under  fuch  cir- 
cumftances  you  could  hardly  blame  any  Soldier 
of  the  Continental  Army  for  caufing  a  Tory 
to  "fwing  "  as  foon  as  he  got  the  chance.— 


"  There  is  a  Number  of  very  refpeftable  Gentle 
men  in  the  Army"  Of  what  fort  were  the  reft, 
we  are  left  to  furmife  as  we  pleafe,  but  we  can 
reft  afsured  that  there  were  at  leaft  "  a  num 
ber  "  of  men  whofe  training  &  breeding  made 
them  agreeable  companions  for  our  young 
Harvard  Graduate.  - 
"  My  Frefhman  Sumner  .  .  .  is  a  Captain  of 
a  Company  from  Milton."  It  was  the  cuftom 
at  Harvard  for  the  Frefhman  to  be  afsigned 

[35] 


Vide  pages 
14  &  /J 


Vide  page 
14 


Vide  page 
14 


Eddy  Wind 


Vide  page 
13 


Vide  page 
16 


Vide  page 
20 


as  fags  to  the  Seniors.  Although  long  fince 
forgotten,  it  has  borne  fruit  &  refemblances 
are  not  hard  to  find  even  to-day.  Still  it  is  a 
pity  that  the  opportunity  for  careful  education 

in  College  Traditions  has  become  lefs. 

"  If  my  wages  were  not  higher  than  I  expefted 
when  at  Home,  I  would  by  no  means  tarry,  but  as 
they  are  raifed,  &  for  the  Love  I  have  for  the  Coun 
try,  I  can  by  no  Means  think  of  leaving  the  Army" 
It  mufl  be  confefsed  that  this  gives  fomewhat 
of  a  fhock  to  our  notions  of  the  ideal  Revolu 
tionary  Soldier.  In  thefe  days  of  grofs  materi- 
ali/m  no  one  would  be  furprifed  if  an  Officer 
whofe  pay  was  infufficient  fhould  leave  the 
army,  but  that  a  Revolutionary  hero  fhould 
put  an  increafe  in  his  wages  before  the  love 
he  had  for  his  country  is  quite  impofsible. — 
"  My  Wages  are  forty  Dollars  p  Month.  W* 
Weeks  was  a  Paymafter.  His  falary,  after  it 
had  been  raifed,  was  barely  fufficient  to  enable 
him  to  keep  in  clean  linen.  Ruffled  fhirts 
were  fo  expenfive  that  a  month's  pay  would 
only  enable  him  to  buy  two  cheap  ones  (p.  13). 
In  addition  to  this  he  had  received  no  pay  for 

over  a  year. 

"  Our  Officers  &  Men  in  general  are  dejlitute 
of  Money  &  have  the  Itch  very  badly"  It 

[36] 


Eddy 


W 


n     d     s 


is  difficult  to  fee  the  connection  here  unlefs 
one  reads  the  next  fentence :  "  Soon  I  expett 
the  Money  will  come  &  their  Wants  be  relieved 
&  I  hope  cured  of  the  Itch  "  —  which  was  evi 
dently  the  well  known  difeafe  which  affli6ts  the 
palm  of  the  hand,  inftead  of  being,  as  fome 
have  fuppofed,  "  an  inflammation  caufed  by 
the  prefence  of  a  Sarcoptes  Jcabiei"  The  latter 
has  nothing  whatever  to  do  with  Money  but 
rather  with  Cleanlinefs.  "  Gen1  Congrejs  "  was 
undoubtedly  refponfible  for  the  prefence  of 

this  deplorable  ftate  of  affairs. 

The  fcene  fhifts  from  the  valley  of  the  Hudfon 

to  the  Camp  at  Valley  Forge. 

The  Winter  at  Valley  Forge  was  the  crucial  teft 
of  the  American  people.  There  were  they 
weighed  in  the  balances  &  found  fufficient. 
The  laft  two  letters  give  us  a  glimpfe  of  the 

intenfe  feverity  of  the  procefs. 

"  This  Moment  arrivd  a  Quantity  of  Beef  which 
feem  d  to  give  Joy  to  every  dijtrefsing  Soul."  The 
ftarving  foldiers  living  on  lefs  than  one-tenth 
rations ;  the  faith  in  "fo  good  a  man  as  His 
Excellency ;  "  the  exuberant  joy ;  what  a  pic 
ture  !  It  needs  no  comment  —  but  it  needs 
to  be  read  &  re-read.— 
"/  bad  the  Honour  to  take  a  Glafs  of  Wine 

[37] 


Vide  page 
23 


Eddy 


W     i     n     d     s 


Vide  page 
24 


Vide  page 
25 


with  Gen1  Washington  £s?  his  Lady"  Imagine 
the  feelings  of  a  young  Harvard  man  of 
twenty-three  drinking  the  health  of  the  Caufe 
with  fuch  companions !  The  perfonal  influ 
ence  of  Washington  kept  the  Army  alive  dur 
ing  the  winter  of  1777—8.  To  fully  appreciate 
it,  read  again  of  the  fufferings,  &  then  read  the 
laft  fentence  in  the  letter :  "  /  Jhould  be  glad 
if  you  would  be  careful  of  fpeaking  about  the  bad 
Fare  of  the  Army,  as  it  might  be  a  Difcourage- 
ment  to  the  men  to  enlift"  (That  fentence  de- 
ferves  to  live.  It  might  not  be  out  of  place, 
framed,  in  fome  of  our  Newfpaper  Offices.) 
We  need  no  further  evidence  that  Wm  Weeks 

had   talked  with  "  His  Excellency" 

Here  the  Record  flops.  Take  the  Straws  & 
ufe  them.  Perchance  they  may  fhew  you 
divers  other  Eddy-winds. 


[38] 


P      o     f     t     f 


P 


TO  William  Coolidge  Lane,  Efq",  Li 
brarian  of  Harvard  Univerjity,  whofe 
Friendfhip  is  one  of  my  moft  valued 
Pofsefsions,  I  defire  to  exprefs  my  cordial 
Thanks,  not  only  for  his  Kindnefs  in  allow 
ing  me  to  print  thefe  Letters  which  are  in 
the  Library,  but  alfo  for  adding  the  finifhing 
Touch  to  thefe  Pages  by  reading  the  Proofs — 
And  now,  moft  gentle  Reader,  if  perchance  thou 
hail  derived  Aught  of  Pleajure  or  of  Profit  in 
the  Perufal  of  this  little  Sheaf  of  Straws,  know 
then  that  they  have  not  been  gathered  in 
Vain— 
Pax  Vobifcum 


/ 


' 


[39] 


Of  the 

Cujlodian 
of  the  MSS. 


To  the 
Reader 


Colophon 

ONE    HUNDRED    &   ONE   COPIES 

OF   THIS    BROCHURE     HAVE    BEEN 

PRINTED    at   CAMBRIDGE,    MASSA 

CHUSETTS,/*^  HIRAM  BINGHAM,  JUN 

X!??^~~ 
jf 

i   UNIVEK 

X^    ^         OF                  '/ 

^^L\^ 

December  2$*  ipoi 

RETURN       CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT 

TO  ^>       202  Main  Library  642-3403 


LOAN 

PERIOD 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

LI  BR 

This  book  is  due  before 

A 

closing 

R 

time 

Y   U 

on  the  last  date 

SE 

stamped 

below 

DUE   AS  STAMPED   BELOW 


- 

1 

"M"*           *    »  T,»        .1           -        »•»••» 

SENtONfLL 

JUL262004 

U.  C.  BERKELEY 

FORM  NO.  DD  6A    12m   6'76         UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  BERKELEY 

BERKELEY,  CA  94720 


LD  21-95wj-7,'37 


ru    14106 


